Conduit supporting block and bracket therefor



Jam 1944- E. M. MOREHOUSE 4 2,333,660

CONDUIT SUPPORTING BLOCK AND BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Nov. 2, 1942Patented Jan. 4, 1944 'CONDUIT SUPPORTING BLOCK AND v BRACKET THEREFOREugene M. Morehouse, 'l'ujunga; Caiif., asslgnor to Adel PrecisionProducts Corp., a corporation of California Application November 2,

,8 Claims. (01. Eng-68) v This invention relates in general to block forsupporting groups of conduit lines in aircraft on cushioned andelectrically bonded seats as exemplifled in United States Letters PatentNo. 2,227,528, issued to Paul W. Adler on January 7, 1941, and moreparticularly to a bracket and block-bracket combination for facilitatingthe installation of conduit supporting blocks.

Heretofore it has been difficult, if not impossible in some instances,to install the conduit blocks in confined and cramped places wheresupporting blocks should b mounted. This is due to the use of the boltswhich clamp to bloc-F: sections on the conduit, as a mean for securingthe block to a structural part of the airplane and the necessity ofholding a nut behind or against said structural part so that the blockmay be mounted thereon.

' In many instances it is diificult, ii not impossible, to hold the nutin proper position and even if adequate nut holding space i afforded theoperator must hold the nut in place with one hand and insert the boltwith the other hand inv stead of having the use of both hands as isdesirable to effect the insertion ofthe bolt and com- Plete theinstallation; V

The practice of using a bolt which holds the block sections together onthe conduits, as a means for securing the blockto a structural part ofthe aircraft makes it difficult, if not impossible, to make sub-assemblyinstallations which are desirable in present day aircraft construction.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mountingbracket for blocks of the character described which makes-it possible toreadily and easily secure the block on aircraft structural'partsin'confined and cramped spaces and wherein the position or angulardisposition or shape of the structural part precludes or makes extremelydiflicult the attachment of an ordinary block'thereto in the manner andwith the means heretofore employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. bracket of the characterdescribed which as a unit separated from the block or mounted on theblock as a part thereof may be clasped on an edge of a structural'partand will remain. therein without the fuse of extraneou fastenings, inproper position while the block is fixed thereto and the bracket issecured to said structural part, or while the bracket, if carriedby theblock, is

being secured or bolted to said structural part.

A further object is to provide a bracket of the character describedwhichincludes pivotaliy connected parts one of which is adapted to be clasped1942, Serial No. 464,271

on an airplane structural part and the other clasped or mounted on theconduit supportin block, whereby the conduit and bracket may berelatively adjusted for installation in various positions and angl sbest suited "to the position, shape and disposition of the particularstructural part on which the bracket is mounted; said adjustable twopart bracket also permitting of securing the bracket to the structuralpart with one of the regular block bolts or with a separate fastening sothat in the latter cas the blocks may be first properly clamped on theconduits to provide a subassembly which is thereafter secured to thestructural part by means of the block-carried brackets and saidseparatefastenings.-

Another important object of my invention is to provide a bracket such asdescribed which carries a nut thereon in position to be readilythreadedly engaged with a bolt or screw employed to fasten the bracketto a structural part of the aircraft, it being unnecessary for theoperator to hold the nut in place as was the practice heretofore.

With the foregoing objects in view. together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the partand in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a v block-bracketliilit'Gil'lbOdYlDg my invention;

V Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the invention showninFig. 1; Fig. 3 isa fragmentary top plan view of the block-bracket unitof Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the unit showing the nut onthe bracket; m

Fig. 5 is afragmentary perspective view of the block-bracket unit.aswhen the bracket is adjusted'to effect an angular disposition of theblock and conduits; r

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the,invention whereby the same bracket as in' Figs. 1 to 5 is used but isadjusted and applied to the block in'a different mariner;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view I of the unit shown inFig. 6 with bracket adjusted to a different position from that shown inFig. 6

but fastened to the block in the same manner.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, it is seen that oneembodiment of my invention generally includes a bracket A adapted to besecured to a metallic structural part B and to a sectional block C forsupporting conduits D.

The block B as here'shown comprises opposed of suitable metal are boltholes I4 in the blocks, and brought into contact with said strips, saidbolts serving as conductors for bonding the conduits to the metalstructural part B.

As here provided the blocks 8 aremade of rigid non-strategic materialsuch as wood,

plastic material, or the like, thereby conserving rubber or syntheticrubber compared to the type of block shown in the aforesaid Adlerpatent. But relatively small'amounts of synthetic rubber or the like areused in employing the small individual cushion strips Ill. These stripsare held in place by means of ribs I5 therein fitted into grooves I6 inthe blocks 8.

The bracket A hereof comprises a generally U-shaped resilient metalclasp member I! and a generally L-shaped metal member I8. The legs I1and I8 of these members are pivotally joined by means of a hollow rivetI9. The U- shaped member I1 is adapted to be clasped on the structuralpart B as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 while the L-shaped member I8 is adaptedto be secured to a corner or end portion of the block C as shown inFigs. 1, 2, 6 and 7.

The leg I!" of the U-shaped bracket member IT is provided at its freeend with an opening 2I with which is registered the opening through aspecial form or sheet metal nut 22. This nut is clipped around the legI1 and has indented key portions 23 engaged in the opening 2| to hold itin place with its two opposed spring tongues 24 positioned to threadedlyengage a bolt which is inserted through the bracket, the opening 25 inthe structural part'B, and the nut 22 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Anut mounted on the bracket as here provided will make it unnecessary forthe operator to hold a nut in place behind or against the structuralpart as was the practice heretofore. Considering the arrangement shownin Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it is seen that the bolt I3 for clamping theblocks 8 on the conduits C passes through the hollow rivet I9, theopening 25 in the airplane structural part B, the opening 2| and the nut22 and may be screwed up to tighten the assembly and secure the bracketin place as well as the block sections.

In this arrangement the L-shaped member i8 closely embraces and grips acorner of the block so that the rivet and nut are aligned with the bolthole I 4 ready to receive the bolt.

The bracket as a separate unit may be clasped on the structural part Bwith its opening in alignment with the opening 25 therein and will beheld thereon due to the frictional gripping action of the U-shapedclaspmember I'I. Before the block is attached to the member I8 of thebracket said member may be swung into the desired position on the pivotprovided by the hollow rivet I9. If desired, the block after attachmentthereof to the bracket, may be swung on the pivot I9 to the desiredposition.

If the bracket is first applied to the block and the bolt I3 is insertedbut part way through the hollow rivet the bracket will be held on theblock as a pre-assembled part, the gripping action of the flanges 20also holding the bracket on the block. With the parts thus assembled theU- shaped member II of the bracket may be readily hooked or clipped ontothe structural part 2 in proper relation to the opening 25 therein totemporarily hold the assembly in place and make it possible for theoperator to use both hands to complete the insertion and screwing up ofthe bolt, thereby easily completing the installation of the block,

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the bracket is adjusted so that L-shapedmember I8 is turned compared to its position in Figs. 1 to 6. Thisbrings the leg I8" of member I8 at the lower end of the leg II of memberI1 and in position to be secured on the end of block by means of thebolt I3, there being an opening 26 in the free end of leg I8" toaccommodate said bolt.

In this arrangement of my bracket the bracket is secured to thestructural part B by means of a short bolt 2'1 and it should be notedthat the use of this small extra bolt makes possible a highly desirablesub-assembly installation of conduit blocks, inasmuch as the bolts I3for clamping the blocks on the conduit are not used to secure thebracket to the aircraft structure but to secure the bracket to theblocks. This makesit possible to assemble a group of blocks and conduitswith the blocks finally clamped and positioned to the conduits and tothereafter secure the brackets on the aircraft structure. In installingthis sub-assembly it is possible to adjust the clasps I! of the bracketsas desired to dispose them in various positions and angles so that theymay be clasped 0n variously extended or positioned structural partsalong the length of the sub-assembly.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention Ido not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, andthe invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purviewof the appended claims.

I claim:

1.-In a bracket for supporting a conduit-embracing block, asubstantially U-shaped clasp member adapted to embrace a support, anangular member having one leg thereof mounted on one leg of said claspmember and it other leg adapted to be secured to said block.

2. In a bracket for securing a conduit-supporting block to a, support, aclasp member adapted to embrace a support, and a substantially L--shaped member pivoted on said clasp member and adapted to be adjusted toposition to embrace and be secured to a corner of the block or toposition in which only one leg thereof is disposed to be secured to theblock.

3. In a bracket for securing a conduit-supporting block to a support, aclasp member adapted to embrace a support, a substantially L-shapedmember pivoted on said clasp member and adapted to be adjusted toposition to embrace and be secured to a corner of the block or toposition in which only one leg thereof is disposed to be secured to theblock, said clasp member and said L-shaped member having aperturestherein aligned with one another and adapted to register with-anaperture in said support, and a nut carried by said clasp member forthreadedly engaging a fastening inserted through said aligned ture insaid clasp member, and fastening means passing through said rivet andother aperture for securing the bracket to said support.

5. In a, bracket for securing a conduit-supporting block to a support, aclasp member adapted to embrace a support and having apertures adaptedto register with apertures in said support, a block-supporting member, ahollow rivet pivotally securing said block-supporting member to saidclasp member through one of the apertures in said clasp member so thatthe bore through the rivet is aligned with the other aperture in saidclasp member; fastening means p ssing through said rivet and otheraperturewrr securing the. bracket to said support, and a nut carried bysaid clasp member in position to engage said fastening means.

6. In a bracket for securing a conduit-supporting block to a support, aclasp member adapted to embrace a support, a substantially L-shapedmember pivoted on said clasp member and adapted to be adjusted toposition to embrace and be secured to a corner of the .block or topcsition in which only one leg thereof is disposed to be secured to theblock, and side flanges on the longitudinal edges of the legs of saidL-shaped member adapted to engage opposite faces of said block. 4

'L'In a conduit-supporting device, opposed blocks adapted to clamp andsupport conduits therebetween, bolts passing through and securingsaidblocks together, a clasp member adapted to embrace a support andhaving apertures adapted to align with an aperture in said support, anda block-attaching member mounted on said clasp member in position to besecured to one of the blocks, and having an aperture through which oneof said bolts extends.

8. In a conduit-supporting device, opposed blocks adapted to clamp andsupport conduits therebetween, bolts passing through and securingsaidblocks together, a clasp member adapted to embrace a support andhaving apertures adapted to align with an aperture in said support, anda block-atttaching member mounted on said clasp member in position to besecured to one of the blocks, and having an aperture through which oneof said bolts extends, said one bolt also passing through the aperturesin said clasp member for securing the clasp member therebetween, boltspassing through and securing said blocks together, a clasp memberadapted to embrace a support and having apertures adapted to align withan aperture 1n said sup-' port, a block-attaching member mounted on saidclasp member in position to be secured to one of the blocks, and havingan aperture through which one of said bolts extends, said attachingmember having another aperture therein aligned with the apertures ofsaid clasp member, and a bolt inserted through the last apertures ofsaid attaching member and the apertures in the support and said clasp tosecure the clasp to the support.

EUGENE M. MOREHOUSE.

